THIS RESTAURANT IS CLOSED Campanile Restaurant Review

: CAMPANILE, A LONGTIME INFLUENTIAL RESTAURANT ON THE LOS ANGELES DINING SCENE, HAS CLOSED This rustically elegant establishment on La Brea has springboarded a plethora of other interesting restaurants in the neighborhood, and, of course, is famous for putting the now-ubiquitous La Brea Bakery on the map. Additionally, the kitchen's alumni have gone on to open some of the best restaurants throughout L.A. The setting --- Charlie Chaplin's old digs --- is reminiscent of a little Mediterranean village, complete with a bell tower (campanile in Italian). A bar sits on one side of the fountain-accented courtyard, a tiny bakery on the other, a casual dining area faces the open kitchen, and there's a formal rear dining room. The wine list is tantalizingly eclectic and the menu features rustic French- and Italian-influenced dishes from chef-owner Mark Peel. Make a light lunch of the grilled shrimp and scallop salad with grilled endive, frisée and ginger vinaigrette. Dinner mains might range from striped bass with cherry tomatoes, olives and broccolini to the signature grilled prime rib with olive tapenade, flageolet beans and sautéed bitter greens. Desserts are legendary. Thursday night is grilled cheese sandwich night --- a moderately-priced affair that has become a popular L.A. culinary event --- when they make a dynamite croque monsieur.